JP2009266468A - Induction cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure safety for heating-cooking by determining that a human body moves apart as correctly as possible. <P>SOLUTION: A human body detection means for detecting a user includes distance sensors 19, 20 which determine distance between a cooker body and the user, and the measured distance between the cooker body and the human body is output as a detected value. A heating power control part 25 variably operates its heating power conditions set up by an operating part 11 in accordance with the detected value of the distance sensors 19, 20. The heating power control part 25 can reduce heating power of heating coils 6, 7 in case the user is determined to have moved away from the cooker body based on the detected value of the distance sensors 19, 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an induction heating cooker having a function of detecting a human body.

  During cooking using the induction heating cooker, the user may leave the induction heating cooker in order to deal with, for example, visitors or telephone calls. In that case, there is no one who monitors the state of cooking by the induction heating cooker, and there is a risk that the food will be spilled or burnt. In particular, when a small amount of oil is preheated in a frying pan or when cooking tempura with a small amount of oil, the oil ignites while the user leaves the induction heating cooker. There is a danger of end.

For the purpose of solving such a problem, for example, the induction heating cooker described in Patent Document 1 includes a pyroelectric infrared sensor that detects infrared rays generated from a human body, and this pyroelectric infrared sensor. When the human body is not detected by the above, the heating power of the heating coil is reduced to suppress the occurrence of spilled food or ignition of oil as much as possible.
JP 2004-171822 A

However, the pyroelectric infrared sensor as described above outputs a detection signal when a predetermined amount or more of infrared energy is incident. Therefore, even when the user is several meters away from the induction heating cooker, when a predetermined amount or more of infrared energy is incident on the pyroelectric infrared sensor (for example, the user is within the viewing angle of the pyroelectric infrared sensor). If it is in the area), it may be detected as a human body.
The pyroelectric infrared sensor is adapted to detect a human body based on a change in incident infrared energy. Therefore, even if the user is in front of the induction heating cooker, if the user does not move, it may not be detected as a human body.

  As described above, in the configuration using the pyroelectric infrared sensor as the means for detecting the human body, it may not be possible to accurately determine that the user has left the induction heating cooker, and the safety of cooking cannot be ensured. There is a case.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to determine that the human body has been separated as accurately as possible and to ensure the safety of cooking by heating. Is to provide.

  An induction heating cooker according to the present invention includes a cooker main body, a heating coil that induction-heats an object to be heated, an inverter that supplies a high-frequency current to the heating coil, and the drive of the inverter by controlling the drive of the inverter. Thermal power control means for controlling thermal power, operation means for setting the thermal power condition of the heating coil by the thermal power control means, and human body detection means for detecting a human body, the human body detection means is the cooking It comprises a distance detection means for measuring the distance between the cooker main body and the human body, and is configured to output the distance between the cooker main body measured by the distance detection means and the human body as a detection value. The thermal power condition set by the operation means is varied according to the detection value of the distance detection means.

  According to the induction heating cooker of the present invention, the human body detecting means for detecting the human body is composed of the distance detecting means for measuring the distance between the cooker body and the human body, so that the cooking measured by the distance detecting means is performed. Based on the distance between the cooker body and the human body, it is possible to determine as accurately as possible that the human body has left the cooker body. Further, the heating power condition of the heating coil set by the operation means is configured to be variable according to the detection value of the distance detection means. Thereby, based on that the human body actually left | separated from the cooker main body, the thermal power of a heating coil can be controlled and the safety | security of heating cooking can be ensured.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal front view of the induction heating cooker. As for the cooking appliance main body 1, the outer shell is the main body case 2, and the top plate 3 constitutes the upper surface of the cooking appliance main body 1 by positioning the top plate 3 above this. Inside the main body case 2, heating coils 6, 7 are arranged directly below the placement portions 4, 5 of the top plate 3, so that they are placed on the placement portions 4, 5. The cooking utensils 8 (see FIG. 1, corresponding to the object to be heated) are each induction-heated.

  An oven door 9 is provided on the left side of the front surface of the main body case 2, and an oven (not shown) is connected to the rear of the oven door 9 (inside the main body case 2). An operation panel 10 is provided on the front right side of the main body case 2, and an operation unit 11 (corresponding to operation means) and a display unit 12 (corresponding to notification means) are provided on the operation panel 10. The operation unit 11 has heating power conditions of the heating coils 6 and 7 (conditions for controlling the output (heating power) of induction heating by the heating coils 6 and 7), cooking menu (for example, boiling water, boiled food cooking, tempura cooking, frying pan cooking) , Roaster cooking), and various heating conditions such as cooking time. The display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal panel, for example, and displays various heating conditions. The thermal power condition can be set, for example, by the user operating the operation dial 11a of the operation unit 11, or the thermal power condition suitable for the selected cooking menu can be read and set. It is.

  On the lower surface of the top plate 3, temperature detection units 13 and 14 formed of a thermistor or the like are provided, particularly directly below the center of the placement units 4 and 5. The heating coils 6 and 7 are supported by coil bases 15 and 16, and a ferrite 17 for forming a magnetic path of the magnetic flux of the heating coils 6 and 7 on the lower surface side of the coil bases 15 and 16. , 18 are arranged.

  Two infrared type distance sensors 19 and 20 (corresponding to distance detecting means) are disposed on the front surface of the cooker body 1 so as to be located on both left and right sides (in front of the heating coils 6 and 7). As shown in FIG. 3, these distance sensors 19 and 20 are configured as a unit including an infrared light emitting diode 21 and a position detection element 22 (PSD: Position Sensitive Detector), and a lens 21 a is connected to the infrared light emitting diode 21. The infrared rays radiated via the light are reflected by the object and enter the position detection element 22 via the lens 22a.

  In such distance sensors 19 and 20, the position at which the infrared rays reflected by the human body (user) as an object are incident on the position detection element 22 (light receiving position of the position detection element 22) is the same as that of the distance sensors 19 and 20. It depends on the distance to the human body. That is, when the distance between the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the human body is short, the light receiving position of the position detecting element 22 is away from the infrared light emitting diode 21 as indicated by the solid arrow A in FIG. The current value Ia flowing from the element 22 increases.

  On the other hand, when the distance between the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the human body is long, as shown by a broken line arrow B in FIG. 3, the light receiving position of the position detecting element 22 is a position close to the infrared light emitting diode 21 side. The current value Ib flowing from the detection element 22 increases. Thus, since the magnitudes of the current values Ia and Ib vary depending on the distance between the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the human body, the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user based on these current values Ia and Ib. Is to be measured.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 (corresponding to infrared detection means) is disposed on the front surface of the cooker main body 1 so as to face forward. The pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 outputs a detection signal when a predetermined amount or more of infrared energy is incident, and detects a human body (user) based on a change in the incident infrared energy. It is like that. The human body has a higher temperature than surrounding objects (for example, a wagon for placing food and cooking utensils) and emits more infrared rays. Accordingly, when the user moves in the front area of the cooker body 1 (area within the viewing angle of the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23), the infrared energy incident on the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 changes accordingly. Therefore, the user is detected based on the change in the infrared energy.

  A portion corresponding to the mounting portions 4 and 5 on the lower surface side of the top plate 3 has a heat-generating conductor and a heat insulating insulator (both not shown) made of a high-resistance nonmagnetic material such as nonmagnetic SUS. ) Is arranged. This heat-generating conductor is used for so-called heater heating by generating Joule heat when energized.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control system. The control device 24 is provided inside the main body case 2 and is constituted by a microcomputer. And based on various input signals and the control program memorize | stored previously, the whole operation | movement of an induction heating cooking appliance is controlled. The control device 24 includes a thermal power control unit 25 (corresponding to thermal power control means) and a human body detection unit 26. A thermal power control signal (a signal corresponding to the set thermal power condition) is input to the thermal power control unit 25 from the operation unit 11 of the operation panel 10, and the inverter 27 is based on the input thermal power control signal. The heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is thereby controlled. Further, the thermal power control unit 25 is configured to control the operation of the display unit 12 of the operation panel 10.

  A resonance capacitor 28 is connected in series to the heating coils 6 and 7, and the inverter 27 is supplied with a commercial AC power supply 29 converted into a DC voltage via a rectifier circuit 30 as a driving power supply. Further, current transformers 31 and 32 are arranged on the input side of the rectifier circuit 30 and the output side of the inverter 27, and their detection signals are given to the thermal power control unit 25. And the thermal-power control part 25 detects the input current to an induction heating cooking appliance, and the output current (coil current) of the inverter 27. FIG.

  The human body detection unit 26 is connected to the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 described above. The human body detection means including the distance sensors 19 and 20 is further provided with a pyroelectric infrared sensor 23. It becomes the composition. And the human body detection part 26 detects that the user left | separated from the cooker main body 1 based on the signal (detection value) input from these distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23. It has become.

  Specifically, the human body detection unit 26 determines that the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user is a predetermined distance based on the signals input from the distance sensors 19 and 20 (the actual cooking operation using the induction heating cooker). It is determined whether or not the distance that can be performed is, for example, about 30 cm. Further, based on the signal input from the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23, it is determined whether or not a user is present in the front area of the cooker body 1. When the human body detection unit 26 determines that the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user does not exceed the predetermined distance (30 cm) and determines that the user is present in the front area of the cooker body 1. It is determined that the user is not away from the cooker body 1, and a human body detection signal is output to the thermal power control unit 25. On the other hand, when the human body detection unit 26 determines that the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user exceeds a predetermined distance (30 cm), or when it is determined that there is no user in the front area of the cooker body 1. Therefore, it is determined that the user has moved away from the cooker body 1, and the human body detection signal is not output to the thermal power control unit 25.

  When the thermal power condition set by the operation unit 11 is a predetermined condition, the thermal power control unit 25 varies the thermal power condition according to the presence or absence of a human body detection signal from the human body detection unit 26. That is, for example, in the operation unit 11, when a cooking menu having a risk of oil ignition such as tempura cooking or frying pan cooking is selected, and thermal power conditions suitable for these tempura cooking or frying pan cooking are set (the set thermal power When the condition is a thermal power condition suitable for tempura cooking or frying pan cooking), the thermal power control unit 25 changes the thermal power condition according to the fact that the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26 (in this case, The output of induction heating by the heating coils 6 and 7 is reduced to, for example, about 500 w), and the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is reduced.

  On the other hand, in the operation unit 11, when a cooking menu that does not pose a risk of oil ignition such as boiling or cooking is selected, and a thermal power condition suitable for boiling or cooking is set (the set thermal power condition is In the case of a thermal power condition suitable for cooking boiled food), even if the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26, the thermal power control unit 25 does not change the thermal power condition and initially sets the thermal power condition. Based on the above, the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is maintained.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When cooking by tempura cooking or frying pan cooking using the induction heating cooker described above, during the cooking, the user exists in an area within 30 cm from the induction heating cooker in front of the induction heating cooker. In the state, a human body detection signal is input from the human body detection unit 26 to the thermal power control unit 25. In this case, the thermal power control unit 25 continues the cooking by the thermal power of the heating coils 6 and 7 based on the initially set thermal power condition.

  During this cooking, for example, if the user moves to an area 30 cm or more away from the induction heating cooker, no human body detection signal is input from the human body detection unit 26 to the thermal power control unit 25. Further, when the user moves to the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 to an area outside the viewing angle, the human body detection signal is not input to the thermal power control unit 25 from the human body detection unit 26. At this time, the thermal power control unit 25 determines that the user has left the cooker body 1 and reduces the thermal power of the heating coils 6 and 7.

  Further, when the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is reduced, the heating power control unit 25 notifies the user that the user has left the cooking device body 1 as a detection status via the display unit 12. In this case, for example, by displaying on the display unit 12 a content such as “Don't leave the cooker because it is tempura cooking”, the user can be prompted to return to the vicinity of the induction heating cooker. Furthermore, the thermal power control unit 25 notifies that the initially set thermal power condition has been reduced via the display unit 12. In this case, for example, by displaying on the display unit 12 a content such as “it is safe for a while because the thermal power has been reduced”, the user can recognize that there is no risk of igniting immediately, and a safe state can be achieved. After confirming, it is possible to return to the vicinity of the induction heating cooker.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the human body detection means for detecting the user includes the distance sensors 19 and 20 that measure the distance between the cooker main body 1 and the user, and the measured cooking. Since the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user is output as a detection value, the user can cook the cooker based on the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user measured by the distance sensors 19 and 20. It can be determined as accurately as possible that the user has left the main body 1. In addition, the heating power conditions of the heating coils 6 and 7 set by the operation unit 11 are configured to vary according to the presence or absence of a human body detection signal output based on the detection values of the distance sensors 19 and 20. Thereby, based on that the human body actually left | separated from the cooker main body 1, the thermal power of the heating coils 6 and 7 can be reduced automatically, and the safety | security of heating cooking can be ensured.

  Further, since the human body detecting means further includes a pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 for detecting infrared rays radiated from the human body, in addition to the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user, the human body detecting means detects by the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23. Based on the infrared rays from the user, it can be determined more accurately that the user has left the cooker body 1. Further, the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 can be controlled according to the presence or absence of a human body detection signal output based on the detection values of both the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23, and cooking Can be further secured.

  The thermal power control unit 25 receives a human body detection signal from the human body detection unit 26 when the cooking menu set by the operation unit 11 is a cooking menu with a risk of oil ignition such as tempura cooking or frying pan cooking. Since the thermal power condition is made variable in response to the disappearance, the control for reducing the thermal power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is performed only during cooking with the possibility of oil ignition. Thereby, the safety of cooking can be ensured during cooking with the possibility of ignition of oil, while the heating coils 6, 7 can be secured during cooking with no possibility of ignition of oil. It is possible to cook with the heating power suitable for the cooking without lowering the heating power.

  Further, since the display unit 12 is provided to notify that the user's detection status by the distance sensors 19 and 20 or the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 and the initial thermal power condition set by the operation unit 11 are changed, the user can It can recognize that it has left | separated from the cooker main body 1, and can cope with returning to the cooker main body 1 vicinity, or confirming safety. Thereby, the safety | security of heating cooking can be ensured further.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the part same as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and only a different part is demonstrated.
In the present embodiment, the thermal power control unit 25 is configured to also serve as a load detection unit that estimates the bottom diameter (size) of the cooking utensil 8 based on the load applied from the cooking utensil 8. That is, the thermal power control unit 25 detects the equivalent impedance of the heating coils 6 and 7 based on the input current to the induction heating cooker and the output current of the inverter 27, and based on the detected equivalent impedance, Estimate the bottom diameter.

  As the bottom diameter of the cooking utensil 8 increases, the magnetic flux generated by the heating coils 6 and 7 easily flows through the cooking utensil 8, and the ratio of the output current to the input current decreases. On the other hand, as the bottom diameter of the cooking utensil 8 is smaller, the magnetic flux generated by the heating coils 6 and 7 is less likely to reach the cooking utensil 8, and the ratio of the output current to the input current is increased. Therefore, the bottom diameter of the cooking utensil 8 can be estimated based on the ratio of the output current to the input current.

  The thermal power control unit 25 determines whether or not the estimated bottom diameter of the cooking utensil 8 is larger than a predetermined value. In addition, this predetermined value can be set according to various heating conditions, such as the selected cooking menu, for example. When the thermal power control unit 25 determines that the bottom diameter of the cooking utensil 8 is larger than a predetermined value, the thermal power condition is varied according to the presence or absence of the human body detection signal of the human body detection unit 26. That is, for example, in cooking using the small-diameter cooking utensil 8, the thermal power control unit 25 determines that the cooking utensil 8 is smaller than a predetermined value, and the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26. Thus, the heating power conditions are varied to reduce the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7.

  On the other hand, in cooking using the large-diameter cooking utensil 8, the thermal power control unit 25 determines that the cooking utensil 8 is smaller than a predetermined value, and even if the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26, The heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is maintained based on the initially set heating power condition without changing the heating power condition.

  For example, in boiled cooking using a small-diameter pan, since the small-diameter pan has a small heat capacity and is easily heated, there is a high possibility that the food will be spilled or burnt while the user is away from the cooker body 1. According to the present embodiment, when the bottom diameter of the cooking utensil 8 estimated based on the load applied from the cooking utensil 8 is smaller than a predetermined size, the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26. Therefore, the control for reducing the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is performed only during cooking using the cooking utensil 8 having a small bottom diameter. This ensures the safety of cooking during cooking that can cause spilled food or oil to ignite, while heating without the possibility of cooking spilled or oil ignited. During cooking, cooking can be performed with a heating power suitable for the cooking without reducing the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7.

  In addition, when cooking is performed using the small-diameter cooking utensil 8, even if the user accidentally sets a thermal power condition corresponding to the large-diameter cooking utensil 8, the user can use the induction heating cooker. When it leaves | separates from, since the thermal power of the heating coils 6 and 7 falls, the safety | security of cooking can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the heating coils 6 and 7 or the resonant capacitor 28 adjusts the output according to the load of the cooking utensil 8, so that the number of turns of the heating coils 6 and 7 is variable (for example, a multi-stage coil). Configuration), or the capacitance of the resonant capacitor 28 may be variable.

  Moreover, you may make it detect the load given from the cooking appliance 8 based on the change of the temperature detected by the temperature detection parts 13 and 14. FIG. For example, when a small amount of oil is put into a small-diameter frying pan and preheated, the heat capacity of the cooking utensil 8 is small and the temperature is likely to rise. Therefore, such a state may be determined based on a change in temperature detected by the temperature detectors 13 and 14, and control for reducing the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 may be performed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the part same as each embodiment mentioned above, and only a different part is demonstrated.
In the present embodiment, a switch (not shown) for selecting use or non-use of the thermal power control function (the function of varying the thermal power condition according to the presence or absence of the human body detection signal) by the thermal power control unit 25 is, for example, an operation It is provided on the front surface of the panel 10. When the use of the thermal power control function is selected by the switch, the thermal power control unit 25 changes the thermal power condition in response to the fact that the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26, and the heating coil 6. , 7 fire power is reduced. On the other hand, when non-use of the thermal power control function is selected by the switch, the thermal power control unit 25 does not change the thermal power condition even if the human body detection signal is no longer input from the human body detection unit 26. The heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is maintained based on the set heating power condition.

  In particular, in the system kitchen, there are many cases where a washing place is provided on the side of the induction heating cooker incorporated in the system kitchen or in the vicinity thereof. Therefore, during cooking, for example, when the user moves to the washing place to wash, the human body detection signal is not input from the human body detection unit 26, and the thermal power of the heating coils 6 and 7 is controlled by the thermal power control function of the thermal power control unit 25. Will fall. In other words, the heating power of the heating coils 6 and 7 may be reduced even though the user can monitor the cooking state from the side of the induction heating cooker or from the nearby washing place. May be unusable.

According to the present embodiment, even if the user leaves the cooker body 1, if the user exists in an area where the cooking condition can be monitored, the thermal power control function is operated by operating the switch. By selecting non-use, heating cooking can be continued with an appropriate heating power based on the initially set heating power condition, and usability can be improved.
In addition, in order to respond to visitors, telephones, etc., when the user moves to an area where the cooking status cannot be monitored, by operating the switch and selecting the use of the thermal power control function, The safety of cooking can be ensured.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the part same as each embodiment mentioned above, and only a different part is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the present embodiment.
In this embodiment, the induction heating cooker is provided in the heating cooking system provided with the range hood fan 41 which comprises a ventilation apparatus. The range hood fan 41 is provided above the induction heating cooker, and a fan device (not shown) including a fan motor and a blower fan is provided therein.

  The distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 are provided not in the cooker body 1 of the induction heating cooker but in the range hood fan 41. In this case, the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 are disposed downward toward the front of the induction heating cooker at the lower front end portion of the range hood fan 41. The distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 are connected to an infrared transmitter 42 provided in the range hood fan 41. This infrared transmission unit 42 is disposed downward toward the induction heating cooker at the front lower end of the range hood fan 41.

  On the other hand, an infrared receiving unit 43 is provided inside the cooker body 1 of the induction heating cooker. The infrared receiving unit 43 is disposed upward toward the range hood fan 41 below the top plate 3 and is connected to the human body detection unit 26. The infrared transmitter 42 described above transmits the detection values input from the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 to the infrared receiver 43 as an infrared signal. An infrared communication means is constituted by the receiver 43.

  The infrared receiver 43 outputs a detection signal to the human body detector 26 according to the infrared signal received from the infrared transmitter 42. And the human body detection part 26 detects that the user left | separated from the cooker main body 1 similarly to each embodiment mentioned above based on the input detection signal.

  According to the present embodiment, the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 for detecting the user are provided in the range hood fan 41 above the induction heating cooker and configured as a heating cooking system. There is no possibility that an object such as a wagon is interposed between the sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 and the user, and the distance between the cooker body 1 and the user and the infrared rays radiated from the user are further ensured. Can be detected. Thereby, it can judge more accurately that the user left | separated from the cooker main body 1, and the safety | security of heating cooking can be ensured further.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The distance detection means is not limited to the infrared distance sensors 19 and 20, and for example, an ultrasonic distance sensor that reflects ultrasonic waves to the object may be used.
The infrared detecting means is not limited to the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23. For example, a thermocouple type (thermopile type) infrared sensor may be used.

The arrangement positions of the distance sensors 19 and 20 and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 23 are not limited to the front surface of the cooker body 1, for example, an upper surface operation unit (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the top plate 3, You may arrange | position to the peripheral part of the top plate 3. FIG.
The notification means is not limited to the display unit 12 made of a liquid crystal panel or the like, and may be constituted by, for example, a buzzer. And you may make it alert | report the detection state of a human body etc. with an audio | voice or a warning sound.
When it is detected by the temperature detectors 13 and 14 but exceeds a predetermined value, control may be performed to vary the thermal power condition according to the presence or absence of the human body detection signal.

The functional block diagram which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows the structure of the control system of an induction heating cooking appliance Longitudinal front view of induction heating cooker Schematic configuration diagram of distance sensor FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a cooker body, 6 and 7 are heating coils, 8 is a cooking utensil (object to be heated), 11 is an operation section (operation means), 12 is a display section (notification means), and 19 and 20 are distance sensors. (Human body detection means, distance detection means), 25 is a thermal power control unit (thermal power control means, load detection means), 23 is a pyroelectric infrared sensor (infrared detection means), and 27 is an inverter.

Claims (7)

The cooker body,
A heating coil for inductively heating an object to be heated;
An inverter for supplying a high frequency current to the heating coil;
Thermal power control means for controlling the thermal power of the heating coil by controlling the drive of the inverter;
Operation means for setting the heating power condition of the heating coil by the heating power control means;
A human body detecting means for detecting a human body,
The human body detection means includes a distance detection means for measuring a distance between the cooker body and the human body, and is configured to output a distance between the cooker body and the human body measured by the distance detection means as a detection value. And
The induction heating cooker, wherein the heating power control means is configured to vary the heating power condition set by the operation means in accordance with a detection value of the distance detection means. The human body detection means includes infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body, and is configured to output infrared rays detected by the infrared detection means as detection values.
The thermal power control means is configured to vary the thermal power condition set by the operation means in accordance with a detection value of the distance detection means and a detection value of the infrared detection means. Item 1. An induction heating cooker according to item 1.   2. The thermal power control unit uses a function of varying the thermal power condition according to the detection value when the thermal power condition set by the operation unit is a predetermined condition. 2. The induction heating cooker according to 2. A load detecting means for detecting a load applied from the object to be heated;
The said thermal power control means uses the function to vary the said thermal power condition according to the said detected value, when the load detected by the said load detection means is a predetermined load. The induction heating cooker described in 1.   The induction heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an informing unit for informing a human body detection state by the human body detecting unit.   The induction heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising notification means for notifying that the thermal power condition set by the operation means has been changed according to the detected value.   The induction heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the use or non-use of the function of changing the heating power condition according to the detection value is selectable.

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